EVALUATION OF RED LIGHT RUNNING CAMPAIGN

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to use a public information and education campaign, along with increased enforcement, to reduce the problem of red light running (RLR) in Lexington, Kentucky. The objective of this portion of the project was to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign. The mail and telephone surveys, taken before and after the campaign, revealed that the RLR program had been successful in improving public awareness of the problems associated with disregarding traffic signals. About 60% of the respondents recalled seeing or hearing ads or information dealing with red light running. Approximately one-half of the respondents who recalled RLR information indicated they had changed their driving with the most common response that they now stop for yellow lights. Compared to the before period, the number of RLR collisions decreased by 4.8% during the five-month campaign period while total accidents increased by 8.9%. The number of RLR citations increased by 45.9% during the campaign period while total citations decreased by 14.9%. The number of cycles in which at least one vehicle crossed the stop bar after the start of the red indication decreased from 7.2% before to 4.6% at the end of the campaign at intersections which had the highest number of RLR collisions. The depositions of RLR citations were similar before and during the program with only about 2% dismissed or found not guilty.